Light, Shadows, Rainbows Misconceptions

Concepts

Light (See also - Three diagrams and study summary)

Misconceptions

• Reflected light is shine or glare not something associated with seeing objects.
• Light can only be absorbed, blocked, or reflected by an object.
• One object can not do all three.
• Light only reflects from mirrors and shiny objects.
• If students are asked what helps you see? Most will answer glasses, seeing-eye dogs, binoculars, hand lenses, or microscopes, not light.
• White light is pure and colorless light.
• Color is a property
• Sunlight is red, yellow, or orange
• Light travels from our eyes so we can see.
• Light comes from the object being looked at (not a property of what light is reflected or absorbed).
• A prism or colored filter puts color into light when it passes through it.
• A colored piece of gel or plastic puts the color into the light that goes through it.
• Bright light travels further than dim.
• Light travels further at night.
• Light only travels a short way.
• Light stops.
• Bats and owls can see in complete darkness.
• Humans can see in complete darkness after the eye adjusts. Students can persist with this belief by simply extending the time minutes, hours, days, years...

Concepts

Shadows

Misconceptions

Shadows come from me. From other people or objects.
Shadows follow you.
Shadows come from clouds or the sky
Shadows come from the sun as it shines on us and reflects off us to make a shadow.

Concepts

Rainbows

Misconceptions

Sunlight reflects from rain
Water sprinkler makes rainbows
Bubbles make rainbows
Mist, moisture in air causes rainbows
Pot of gold
Water falls through light. The water has color in it and when it hits the light you see it.
When light hits falling rain it makes all the colors in the raindrops to reflect off one another and the colors that are the same come together.

Robert Sweetland's Notes ©